TAM SCOBBIE is being inspired by the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund volunteers who are aiming to write their names into the Guinness Book of World Records as he attempts to play his part in St Johnstone's progression in Europe tomorrow night.
Scobbie was a school friend and Falkirk team-mate of Craig who 10 years ago tragically died at just 17 when training equipment he was carrying connected with an overhead power cable at the Little Kerse ground in Grangemouth.
His family and friends have been raising money ever since and their latest project - a 105-hour continuous 11-a-side football match - has smashed their £37,000 target and is on course to raise double that once it concludes at 10pm tonight.
The McDiarmid Park defender said: "It's been good. I was down seeing Craig's mum and dad yesterday.
"They were great. I spoke to some of the people who were playing - Craig's brother and sister - who'd just come off an eight-hour stint on the pitch. They were getting a couple of hours' rest before going back on to do and a 12-hour stint overnight.
"Tomorrow will be the 10-year mark since Craig's accident at Falkirk so I think I will head down for the finish and watch them bring it home.
"It certainly puts flight times into perspective when we're travelling in Europe. They are looking to try to push it to £74,000 which would be double Craig's number. Hopefully everyone sticks to it. They are doing a fantastic job."
The fund-raising effort is a fantastic boost for Scobbie as Saints look to over-turn a 1-0 deficit against Armenian side Alashkert to progress to the second qualifying round of the Europa League where they will likely meet Kairat Almaty from Kazakhstan who are defending a 2-0 lead over Red Star Belgrade.
He said: "Last week was probably the worst performance we've had in Europe away from home but hopefully we'll show the fans who will come out that we are in with a fighting chance.
"We have to keep it tight at the back and try to play some attacking football to give us an opportunity to get to the next round.
"They were a good side over there, but back at McDiarmid, on our day we can beat anyone. We'll certainly put up a better show than we did over there."
St Johnstone, meanwhile, are having a looked at Jim McAlister in training after the midfielder left Dundee last season.
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